515 Noble Conferment (3)
Did they want to split the credit between the two of them?
Xuanyuan Ce’s heart ached again. He glanced at Song Jingchen in disdain and drank the wine in one gulp. He said, “I’ve long heard that there’s a genius in Great Xia. Now that I’ve seen him today, he’s indeed worthy of his reputation.”
The emperor saw the disdain on his face and thought that Xuanyuan Ce was saying this to disgust him. He didn’t think that he was deliberately speaking up for Song Jingchen.
Although he didn’t know why Xuanyuan Ce despised Song Jingchen, he was more or less relieved.
Otherwise…
Everyone was waiting for him to speak. Even if the emperor did not want to reward Song Jingchen, he had no choice. He pondered for a moment before saying in a low voice, “Minister Song has contributed to the invention of the printing technique. He is specially conferred the title of Earl Zhongyi, and his wife shall be known as Madam Zhongyi.”
The name “Zhongyi”, which meant loyalty, served to remind Song Jingchen that everything he had now was given to him by the emperor. Naturally, Song Jingchen should be loyal to him.
Song Jingchen pursed his lips and kowtowed to thank the emperor.
The two of them returned to their seats. Shen Yijia could clearly feel that Song Jingchen was a little angry. She tugged at his sleeve. “Hubby?”
Song Jingchen sighed helplessly. This girl did everything for him. She wished she could give him everything good. What reason did he have to be angry?
“Are you hungry? You can eat some jerky now.”
Shen Yijia was very obedient. Song Jingchen said that she shouldn’t eat anything from the palace if she could. She really didn’t eat anything from the beginning to the end.
Even though the dishes just now looked, smelled, and tasted good, she did not touch them.
Hearing Song Jingchen’s words, Shen Yijia knew that he wasn’t angry anymore. She grinned and took out two candied plums from her pouch.
“Let’s keep the rest. I’ll give them to Aunt later.”
Song Jingchen thought to himself, “This silly girl.”
With Song Jingchen and his wife’s seemingly casual but extraordinary gifts, the emperor wasn’t interested in the gifts given by the people afterwards. It was mainly because the matter of conferring him with the title of nobility made him feel like a fishbone was stuck in his throat. He couldn’t pretend to be happy at all.
After everyone finished giving their gifts, some civilian artists began to perform.
The emperor symbolically drank a few glasses of wine with everyone before leaving the banquet in advance. He instructed Lord Jing, the eldest son, to entertain the guests on his behalf.
As soon as the emperor left, the atmosphere in the hall became much livelier. The officials no longer restrained themselves and began to offer toasts everywhere.
Song Jingchen had just received a reward, and there were many people who came to congratulate him.
Since they were in the bureaucracy, even if Song Jingchen was unwilling, he had no choice but to curry favor.
After drinking one glass after another, Shen Yijia was speechless. She resisted the urge to kick the person who approached her away.
The birthday banquet only ended at the end of the day.
After that, everyone left the palace according to their status.
As soon as Shen Yijia and Song Jingchen walked out of the hall, Eunuch Li walked over and blocked their way.
“Lord Song… Oh my, look at my memory. You should be called Earl Zhongyi now.” Eunuch Li smacked his lips as if he was playing with a treasure before continuing with a smile, “His Majesty asked me to bring Earl and Madam Zhongyi to the Cold Palace.”
Song Jingchen glanced at the group of eunuchs behind Eunuch Li and nodded. “Thank you.”
Night fell. Unlike the other brightly lit palaces, Weiyang Palace seemed to be a world of its own. The darkness imprisoned this palace like a cage.
With Eunuch Li leading the way, the imperial guards automatically opened the heavy door.
“Earl, please!” Eunuch Li extended his hand.
Looking through the door at the desolation inside, Song Jingchen clenched his fists under his sleeves.
Song Li had entered the palace before he was born, but Madam Li often brought him to the palace to talk to her.
When he was a little older, he studied with Shangguan Han for a period of time.
Almost every time he entered the palace, Song Jingchen would bring some commoners’ toys to pay his respects to her first.
Therefore, the two had always been very close.
Thinking that he wouldn’t be able to bring her out of the Cold Palace for a while, Song Jingchen blamed himself.
As he was thinking, a soft hand squeezed into his palm domineeringly.
Song Jingchen was stunned. He turned around and met a pair of bright eyes.
Shen Yijia tilted her head. “Hubby, let’s go in.”
Song Jingchen loosened his grip and pursed his lips. “Yes.”
The two of them walked in front. Eunuch Li followed closely behind with his men.
The group’s footsteps were not light. Just as they entered the courtyard, a weak female voice came from the main hall. “Su Yun, go and see who’s here.”
Today was the emperor’s birthday. Even the cold palace could hear the festive sounds clearly.
Song Li really couldn’t figure out who would come to such an unlucky place like the Cold Palace at this time.
“Yes, I’ll go now,” Su Yun replied and quickly walked to the door.
The dilapidated hall door opened and Su Yun froze on the spot when she saw the person outside.